It was a routine I had performed over and over at least once a night, but often, more, for over a year. The monitor went off like clockwork at 5 a.m., and I climbed the stairs to my daughter’s room on autopilot.

I had become an expert at navigating my house in the dark – I knew exactly how many stairs my feet had to step, when to turn so that I wouldn’t ram my hips in to the kitchen table corner, and my hands never fumbled for the doorknob to her room.

It was Mother’s Day, and it was the last time I would be feeding my daughter during the night.

Why I Had To Let Go Of That Last Night Feeding

Mother’s Day. So fitting, right? There I was, doing this nurturing thing that made me feel more like a mother than wiping butts, and I was ready to let that part of motherhood go.

Unlike my son, my daughter fought sleep. She was a tenacious kid with a strong personality, and while her take-no-prisoners M.O. will serve her really well when she’s older, it made sleep training a nightmare.

She was up several times a night looking to eat and had a hard time soothing herself. We ran the gamut of sleep associations – rocking, nursing, you name it.

Disjointed sleep, plus the disappointment and shame I fed myself, made me depressed, and I knew, for the sake of my family, something had to be done. After consulting Nicole, we managed to get my daughter down to one feeding a night at 4am, and it was glorious.

For a while.

Fast forward a few months, a couple of out-of-town trips, several teeth and a slew of ear infections later, and my ten month-old was sleeping for three hours at a stretch if I was lucky. On those rare nights when she granted us a six-hour stretch, I felt hopeful. And amazed that I had forgotten what being rested felt like.

Once again, I reached out to Nicole, and we worked together to get my daughter back on track — waking for a feeding at 5am and going back to sleep.

This close to sleeping all night long, but not quite.

Since she wasn’t quite a year old, I forgave her these wakings, but change was coming. After her first birthday, I had decided that my feeding station wouldn’t open for business until 6 a.m.

So, ten days after she turned one, on Mother’s Day, I went in to feed my daughter in the pre-dawn darkness for the last time.

And I cherished every minute of it.

The Bittersweet Moments

It was such a bittersweet moment. Even though I was ready to finally start sleeping like a normal person again, with regular REM cycles, a part of me would miss those quiet moments and the ritual.

The smell of my daughter’s room in the dark hours of dawn.

The peace of that time of day.

Her warm body pressed against mine.

The sound of her eating.

The way she would nuzzle in to my neck before I placed her back in the crib.

As we sat there in the dark, I had a moment of doubt. “Maybe we should just keep doing this?” I thought to myself. “It’s not so bad, right? She eats quickly, goes back to sleep, what’s the harm? Perhaps she’ll grow out of this on her own?”

Except that she was already a year old and showed no signs of releasing me of my 5am duties.

Except that I also had a preschooler to take care of, and the interrupted sleep had reduced me to an over-caffeinated, edgy, and moody mother.

The feeding over, I kissed her milky cheek, inhaled her sleepy scent, and lowered my drowsy toddler into her crib. The walk out of her room seemed to last an eternity as I took it all in, knowing things would change.

How I Knew I Had Made The Right Decision

The next night when my daughter woke, I made that familiar trek upstairs, making a detour to the couch instead of her room. She started her usual whimpering, and after enough time passed by and she knew I wasn’t coming in, the crying started. Then yelling.

It took every ounce of my being not to heave myself off that couch, burst into her room, pick her up, nurse her and help her back to sleep one more time. But I held strong. Eventually, 6am came and I went in to feed her.

The plan was to get her up for the day, and she sure fought me on it, heavy eyelids and all. But we made it through the day, in to the night, and back to 5am the next morning.

And the same thing the morning after that. But with each passing day, that yelling became quieter crying. And then whining and whimpering.

And then it happened.

I was awakened by my daughter’s cooing over the monitor, and turned to look at a clock that read 6:30!

As a reward for all that hard work, my daughter greeted me with huge grins and hugs. In those well-rested eyes of hers, I knew I had made the right decision. Not to mention that I felt like a new woman, myself.

In the end, I don’t know if I’m more proud of her or me. Sure, we would encounter more bumps along the way. But at least we were fortified with a solid foundation of sleep to fall back on when we did.

And I now sleep in every Mother’s Day.

You CAN Have A Parent Reflection Just Like This One…And We Can Help You Get There!

It took two consultations with Nicole (not to mention a lot of hard work on my part, and on my daughter’s) to get to the point where our whole family felt rested again. But we got there…and you can, too! We have a team of trained, expert consultants who are eager to get to know you, and to create a Personalized Sleep Plan™ just for your family. Your plan will be 100% tailored to your unique situation, and will fit your parenting philosophies and goals (just like mine did!).

What are your thoughts on night weaning? Any night weaning stories or tips to share?

Our Members Area is packed with exclusive content and resources: e-Books, assessments, detailed case studies, expert advice, peer support, and more. It actually costs less to join than buying products separately! As a member, you’ll also enjoy a weekly chat with an expert sleep consultant. And the best part – members receive 20% off all sleep consultation services!

If you’re looking for ways to get your baby or toddler into a healthy sleeping routine during the day, I encourage you to explore Mastering Naps and Schedules, a comprehensive guide to napping routines, nap transitions, and all the other important “how-tos” of good baby sleep. With over 45 sample sleep schedules and planning worksheets, Mastering Naps and Schedules is a hands-on tool ideal for any parenting style.

For those persistent nighttime struggles, check out The 3 Step System to Help Your Baby Sleep. Using the same unique approach and practical tools for success, this e-book helps you and your baby sleep through the night.

For those persistent toddler sleep struggles, check out The 5 Step System to Help Your Toddler Sleep. Using the same unique approach and practical tools for success, this e-book helps you and your toddler sleep through the night and enjoy a better daytime schedule.

Night weaning. It’s a popular topic around The Baby Sleep Site®! Countless parents have contacted us over the years and asked, “Is my baby ready for night weaning?”

The answer, of course, varies from baby to baby. So much depends on age, but we can’t offer a simple ‘if your baby is this age, then yes, it’s time for night weaning’. Because we have to account for health factors, too – some babies simply need night feedings longer than others, especially if they have medical problems. And parent preference plays a huge part in this as well – some moms want to hang on to night feedings even after they’re no longer “necessary”, simply because they love that special time with their child!

The night weaning question has come up often enough recently, however, that we thought it was time we brought you this great tool to help you get a better sense of whether or not you and your baby are ready to night wean. Take this simple, 5-question quiz, and learn whether or not night weaning is something you can consider right now.

Night Weaning Articles

The night weaning quiz, below, will provide great insights, but if you want to do some extra reading on night weaning, take a look at these resources:

Night Weaning Quiz: Is Your Baby Ready For Night Weaning?

The quiz below is very easy to take – only 5 questions, and you simply need to mark a number from 1-5 for each question. Once you have answered each question, click the ‘Get Score’ button at the bottom (note that you do NOT have to enter your name or e-mail address in order to see your results). A new page will appear; enter the numerical code that’s displayed, and your quiz results will show on a new page.

Is My Child Ready to Night-Wean?

Answer each question below by selecting a number between 1 and 5.

My child wakes just 1 or 2 times a night for a feeding

Less True – 1 2 3 4 5 – More True

My child always goes right back to sleep after a feeding

Less True – 1 2 3 4 5 – More True

My child does NOT need a feeding to fall asleep

Less True – 1 2 3 4 5 – More True

My child is NOT yet eating 3 solid meals per day

Less True – 1 2 3 4 5 – More True

My child is 9 months or YOUNGER

Less True – 1 2 3 4 5 – More True

To receive your results via e-mail (optional):

Your Name: Your Email:

Night Weaning Resources From The Baby Sleep Site®

Night weaning isn’t always easy, even if you know your baby is ready and have read all the right baby sleep book. You may need night weaning help – and we offer just that! Our team of caring and compassionate consultants is ready to provide the personalized help you and your family need. Your consultant will provide you with your very own Personalized Sleep Plan™ which contains specific night weaning plans and schedules.

Once you make your choice and purchase, you will immediately receive an e-mail with your Helpdesk login information. You’ll be able to login and start your Family Sleep History form right away – it’s that simple!

For those persistent nighttime struggles, check out The 3 Step System to Help Your Baby Sleep. Using the same unique approach and practical tools for success, this e-book helps you and your baby sleep through the night.

If you’re looking for ways to get your baby or toddler into a healthy sleeping routine during the day, I encourage you to explore Mastering Naps and Schedules, a comprehensive guide to napping routines, nap transitions, and all the other important “how-tos” of good baby sleep. With over 45 sample sleep schedules and planning worksheets, Mastering Naps and Schedules is a hands-on tool ideal for any parenting style.

Or, join our Members Area packed with exclusive content and resources: e-Books, assessments, detailed case studies, expert advice, peer support, and more. It actually costs less to join than buying products separately! As a member, you’ll also enjoy a weekly chat with an expert sleep consultant. And the best part – members receive 20% off all sleep consultation services!